Episode 42 – August 16, 2014

Japan’s wrapping up its O-Bon (respect for ancestors) holidays – John’s just back from visiting family and friends in the US – and Gavin’s just back from being sunburned on Zushi beach. While we originally intended this episode to be light on news and heavy on the light stuff (that is, the experience of living in Japan), our news brains may have led us slightly astray. And for that, we are unabashed and brazenly unapologetic. With August’s O-Bon holidays also come the yearly memorial services for the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Aug 6 and 9), as well as charged demonstrations during the anniversary of Japan’s surrender to Allied forces on August 15th, 1945. With rearmament in the air, you might imagine these events hold no small significance for the direction and sentiment of the nation at large. Hear more with us on Episode 42!